Suddenly You Are a Bus Rider?

We all know it is hot in DC. I mean really hot. Today when I was trying to get home, I noticed that every bus stop had at least 20 people waiting for a bus. I don't mean those commuter buses, I mean the city buses that go up Conn. Ave and Mass. Ave.

It just annoyed me that suddenly we had a surge of Bus Riders in DC. How do I know these weren't the usual commuters with me? Because they were all paying with cash and coin on the bus. It was insane. Person after person piled into these mobile air conditioned methods of transport as they tried to get home.

It doesn't help that the metro trains have no AC either. I see people getting ready to pass out as the train approaches the platform and the famous Express or Examiner being used to fan themselves. This is sign number one the metro is suffering big time this summer. The other sign is the masses of people piling on buses - suddenly and surely to get a little AC and try and get a little closer to home before they have to walk in the swamp of soupy humidity.

Can we get a break? Or a few like the amount to equal the broken escalators on this crippled capital metro? Stay cool out there.

Metro and Metrobus feeling the Pain in Public Affairs

Not a good summer for Metro and Metrobus Public Affairs - take a look at these sites and news items.

http://unsuckdcmetro.blogspot.com/

http://dcist.com/2009/08/two_metrobus_operators_fired_a_thir.php

I also heard a rumor that DC DMV closed down the Brentwood Branch - this calls for a big long blog post in memorial to the worst DMV location on earth. Does anyone remember that parking lot where they did the driving test? Worst location ever.

TOO BAD, SO SAD!!! But oh the memories.

Silver Lining it to Dulles?

U.S. transportation officials sealed their commitment to a long-planned extension of Metro to Dulles International Airport at a ceremony today in which Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood signed a formal agreement to provide $900 million in funding considered crucial to the project's success.

Wow, I can't believe this is really going to happen. I just had a series of Facebook status updates cheering at the news. Being a DC resident, I am not sure if this is good or bad. I mean I know it is ultimately good, but will it bring the congestion relief it is promising? And are they really planning four stations around Tysons Corner? There goes that mall.

Are we really calling it the Silver Line? I can see all sorts of jokes coming out of this one.

Can You Hear Me Now ? Riding on the Metro

Yesterday, WMATA released a press statement indicating that riders will be able to use any cell phone, wifi-enabled or web-enabled phone while riding the rails, no matter the provider. As happy as I am that my Verizon Aircard will work better when I am commuting to work, I am not pleased that I will have to listen to more than just Verizon customers run their mouths on the metro.

As metro is excited about this, they say this means "fewer dropped calls underground." Don't they realize that dropped calls underground can sometimes be a nice break for those of us who don't want to listen to everyone's conversations? Can you hear me now? Not so good.

1,544,721 Trips on Metro for Inauguration

Normally, when it comes to WMATA, I would be logging a complaint, but on this one I have to give a kudos. I heard nothing but positive feedback from the many visitors in town on how well Metro handled the crowds during the inauguration. Today, I read that they handled 1,544,721 passengers - the most in their history. Job well done Metro. DC did an amazing job moving people in and out of the city. I also want to thank the 10,000 or so additional police officers, state troopers, and national guard who came into town to assist with this monumental task. We hope you enjoyed the buzz of the city. Come back soon! Our economy needs the consumer spending.

And the debate continues on ridership increasing versus service decreasing over at the WashingtonPost. Tune in for some interesting discussion.

Metro Plays Guessing Game with Riders

Taken from the WMATA site:
June 19 is Dump the Pump Day, a great time to try Metro, the affordable alternative to skyrocketing gas prices. We know you'll be on board, but just how many of your fellow commuters will join you? Give us your best guess. If your number is right (or closest), we'll give you a SmarTrip® card loaded with $100 in value. If more than one person has the winning number, we'll draw randomly from the closest ones.
My thoughts: The last thing I need is more people trying Metro. Yes, I agree that metro is the affordable alternative to exorbitant gas prices, but only when trains run on time, don't derail and are not overwhelmed with crowds during rush hour. Okay, so despite my complaining...I took a guess. I think I entered 825,287 passengers on 6/19. Here is to hoping I win. I could use the extra 100 bucks on my SmarTrip card.

My Route to Work Today

I was on my way into work today when I realized I forgot my ID. When I went back to get it the metro was already jam packed. I decided rather than wait it out for three trains I would jump on the bus and take it as far as I can before braving the rails during rush hour again. As a result, I had an adventurous route into work today. Over bridges, under rivers, through a cemetery - all just another commute in the Nation's Capital region. I wonder if my commute home can top it? It might make for a good feature story - different modes of transport to get to work today.

What Happened to DC's Snooze Button?

I recently took a trip to New York City (more on that trip in a forthcoming post - The Washingtonian View of the Big Apple).

It had been a few years since my last trip and this time I really wanted to "get a feel for the city." Among my many questions, I asked the locals, "What time do New Yorkers start their work day? - or - What time of morning is socially acceptable to arrive at the office on any given work day?" I was surprised at the answer - on average between 9:00 am and 10:00 am. Note, I did not conduct a comprehensive study on this, I just asked a few New Yorkers I met, so I am aware it is probably not representative of all of NYC.

Being from D.C. I sometimes feel as if I am in constant competition with NYC. Who has the better museums, who has the higher rents and bar tabs, who is truly the international city in the United States? I think the root of many of my questions, including the one about our wake up calls, was comparative and competitive in nature. I am very proud of my city and I love hearing when New Yorkers come to visit and fall in love with the cleanliness and the carpeted metro and the reflection of the monument on bodies of water. So when I went to NYC this time, I already had a checklist in my head - what makes us different from NYC and them from us. One thing I noticed - NYC sleeps in more!

Let me clarify my statement a little. We all know the famous attribute of New York-the city that never sleeps. Having spent three almost anthropological observation days there, I took note - this is in fact a misnomer. New York does sleep, just not all at once. New York is a city of two shifts - the day and the night. The city suffers rush hour times two - or so it seems. There is a change of shift from day to night and then dusk to dawn. I learned that the NYC Subway is open 24 hours a day! That takes a lot of very hard working people and a at least two shift changes that happen everyday.
One thing I really enjoyed while I was there was trying to decipher when someone was executing a shift change versus simply transiting the city for everyday business. New York City and it streets, stations and subways are all instruments in a great 21st century symphony of sounds and sights. This booming composition acts like a soundtrack on all sides of you and your senses to remind you that the city is humming around the clock. It may sound strange, but I found it soothing to stand in the middle of it all and watch it transpire around me.

But, I digress. My original reason for this post was to highlight my belief that D.C. residents are not allowing themselves the luxury of sleeping in these days. Since my return from NYC I have been watching closely the patterns of population commuting and riding the metro at the earlier hours. There seems to be a growing trend of people getting up earlier to "beat the rush." Unfortunately, it is creating what I like to call "the early rush hour." (See similar topic in article from USA Today about Atlanta commuters).

The other day, I got up early and was standing on the platform at 5:35 am - Red Line. I was shocked to find at least 35 other people on the platform with me. Yes, I actually counted. And what is even more disturbing is the fact that none of them seemed phased to be up this early. They weren't yawning or hiding their coffee from the views of the metro cameras. Simply standing there waiting for the train. That takes training - so they have been at this a while?

Then, when the train came, I was even more shocked at the fact that there were only three seats available in the whole car at that hour. Let me remind you it was 5:40 in the morning at this point. I looked around at the passengers as if I was able to read there faces to tell me where they began their commute. Many of them looked as if they began in the beginning - Shady Grove. I didn't even want to do the math in my head - what time they must have gotten up to get here this early. The thought hurt my eyes, that pain behind the eyeball.

I think it has really ruined what used to be my favorite part of the day - that early morning in DC. When no one else was up and I could smoothly glide on the rails, head against the train window listening to my iPod play melodies by Juliet Simms. PARKER!

So, here is my plea to my fellow Washingtonians - please go back to sleep. Hit that snooze button one more time and allow us early birds to resume our peaceful commute the way it used to be, before you all caught on to our pre-sunrise secret.

Everything Going Down, Nothing Going Up

What is with the metro escalators and elevator lately? The other day I was in the metro and they made what seemed like a 7 minute announcement on all the metro stations with broken escalators and elevators.  The list must have grown dramatically this past week. I noticed when I got to Dupont Circle that the up escalator was busted, but the down escalator was working.  As I hiked up, nearly out of breath, I stopped and asked about four elderly people if I could help them by carrying their bags. Half way up, I just got mad at Metro. It seemed so stupid that they would run the down escalator and make people walk up the very steep escalator at Dupont Circle. 

This occurred at more than one metro station that day. I saw it at Pentagon City and Gallery Place as well. What kind of decision does it take to flip the switch and make the escalator an up escalator and make people walk down on their own? I am just very confused by the lack of leadership in these stations. Do they have to wait for central command to give them the go ahead on such decisions. It is no wonder people are getting fed up with WMATA. I can't wait to see how people react to the new New York Style trains with less seating and more standing.  

Did You Take a Fare Hike?

Yesterday afternoon, while trying to get home on a very slow and very packed red line I overheard these words, "And they raised the fares today." Could it be true? Did metro really hike their fares already? How did I miss this? I thought it wasn't supposed to happen until the spring. Can anyone provide me with some intel here?

I tried to pay attention to the amount on my Smartrip today, but didn't notice much of a difference. I can only say that is they have already hiked the fares, then I want to see some improvements STAT! No more crowded four car trains during rush hour please! No more "no passengers" trains blowing through stations leaving us all to stare down the line like zombies. No more "we will be moving momentarily, there is a train ahead of us."

Of course there is a train ahead of us. Why do you feel you need to tell us that there is a train ahead of us. Isn't this redundant? How about telling me only when there is something UNUSUAL in front of the train, like a person, or a cat or something. Save your pathetic updates please driver for the tourists, on the weekend, when they are fascinated by the big booming voice over the PA system. Leave me in peace. I wonder if I can take the bus home from here, maybe I will get the 38B from Ballston to Georgetown. I feel an adventure coming on.

Bums in Bethesda?

I am sorry, did I miss the memo? Was there some sort of announcement put out that all bums from NW DC should jump on the metro and ride a few stops until they reach the "first stop in the State of Maryland?" The other day, while running errands in Bethesda, I thought I would stop in the Barnes & Noble on Woodmont Avenue. I was surprised to see about seven bums along Woodmont Ave. picking through the garbage cans and sitting on the outdoor tables.

I find it hard to believe that that Soccer Moms of Bethesda and the latte sipping ladies of the area would let this situation develop. Doesn't this fly in the face of the image of Woodmont Avenue? I would be curious to see if these seven or eight new residents of the road stick around through a Saturday night, when the restaurants are teaming and the gossip is flowing down the streets. Heck, if I were on the hungry side and lacked a place to stay, I would camp out in Bethesda too. Chances are when you get handed a doggie bag out of the goodness of someones heart, you get to finish off the leftovers of a fine cuisine overpriced meal.

I would be curious to see if there is a flight of the bums over to the Clarendon area as well? They have some nice restaurants, don't they?

When Did Red Become the New Orange?!

I live on the Red Line. I have also ridden the Orange Line. I used to hear the horror stories of those condo-owning "geryuppies" (new term I heard for a younger yuppy) who would pack into the metro like sardines every morning to get into the city for work. Then, like clockwork, they would do it all over again at 5PM to return to their highrise, overpriced real estate in Northern Virginia.

At work you would hear people say, "Man, the Orange Line was bad today. I had to wait for three trains before I could smash into a spot." The worst story I ever heard was last summer, when it was one of those really hot mornings and someone said that a girl got sick from her fear of enclosed spaces. Can you imagine being stuck on a metro, packed in like sardines and having someone lose their breakfast in the midst of it? Not appetizing in the least!

I always thought that the Orange Line was indicative of Northern Virginia's poor planning. The fact that half the state of Virginia drives to Vienna or West Falls Church metro station and parks there to catch the metro means that the cars are filled by the time they get three stops down the line. So, all the Starbucks-sipping, condo-owning geryuppies in Clarendon or Ballston (I will save a separate blog entry for that metro stop town) are left stranded on the platform watching as train after train of bureaucrats flies by them.

This means they are late to work, in a bad mood when they get to work and do nothing but complain all day about the Orange Line. Oh, but they love their high-priced condo living and so that makes it all bearable, somehow. I guess that is why at 5PM they leave their desk and do the exact same ritual, only in reverse. I ask you, is it really worth it? But, then again, what is their other option? Sit on 66 watch the world go by while you sit in traffic? I hope you have a good audiobook on CD, because the morning radio in this town sucks too (Sorry, but I am used to real talk radio - spoiled by Los Angeles I guess)! Or I guess you can SLUG. I am still creeped out by that whole thing - the rules, the rituals, the HOV lanes - it just isn't for me.

Back to what I was saying about RED being the new ORANGE. I guess that Shady Grove is the Vienna of Maryland. With every passing day, it seems that my old-reliable Red Line gets more and more crowded. I understand the occasional surge between stations like Gallery Place and Metro Center, which are true transfer points. I even make an exception for Farragut North, voted the busiest metro station in all of Washington. But, when I get on the red line and head into NW DC I don't expect to have to endure the crowds of commuters that I have been seeing as of late.

I know it is the Maryland commuters who are causing my Red line to be the new Orange line. Marylanders, I have nothing against you. When I see you driving around the Capital City, I don't mind, because your tags remind me that you want to save the bay and all that stuff. But I have to ask, why the sudden change in how you get to work? Is it the gas prices? Are you tired of driving the Clara Barton or the GW Parkway? I must say I am puzzled, because I don't hear nearly as much grumbling about Maryland traffic and commuting problems from the water cooler crowds.

Help me understand why when I leave work later, around 7 or 730, I board the metro and have to stand and stake out my 1X1 piece of real estate by the door. I say to myself, "you can't all be working this late." Then, I hope that the crowds subside as we get to Metro Center - nope, just more people piling on. Then I think, okay, they will get off at Dupont - for dinner and stuff. Nope. No one gets on, but no one gets off either. Then, Woodley, Cleveland, Van Ness, Tenley...nothing. How can this be that there are still this many people on this metro when I get off at the "last stop in the District of Columbia?" I push my way out and sigh out of frustration.

As I exit the metro train I watch as it pulls out of the station. I watch as car after car passes, each one filled with people holding the hand rails trying to read their papers. I say to myself, at least I don't have to endure the Shady Grove parking lot each night. Instead, I happily walk home, shaking off the commuter coodies and trying to breath the fresh air, clearing my memory of that bad breath that stood next to me for 6 stops. I am home within minutes of stepping off that escalator. I remind myself that I hate crowds of commuters. I also stop to be thankful that I can be home with my family long before everyone else in that train gets in their cars to return home after a long painful train ride from the Capital City to the burbs. Oh, the joys of living in Washington. Here is to hoping the gas prices go down and my Red Line goes back to being a pleasant journey under NW DC where I can sit and read my paper on the way to work.